Dark Realm 66
“Whoa.” Brinley held onto the table to steady herself.
“Are you okay?” Gabriella placed her hand on Brinley’s shoulder.
“What a rush.” Brinley smiled.
“Brinley?” Joy stepped inside the room.
“Hey.” Brinley waved.
Joy ran over to embrace Brinley. “How have you been? Why did you leave?”
Brinley stared at Joy. “I’m good. What’s wrong with Herman?” She skipped over the question of why she left.
“Um.” Joy started to speak. “I don’t know.”
“Hey Brinley, you’re back.” Brax laughed walking over to hug Brinley, but Joy held him back.
“Oh, the tension is intense.” Gabriella joked.
“Brinley.” Herman coughed.
Brinley rushed to his side. “What happened to you? This is my fault for leaving, isn’t it? I’m so sorry. I’m sorry I left. What can I do? Please tell me what I can do?” Brinley cried.
Herman cupped her chin in his hands. “You are home. That is all I ever wanted.”
“Brax, can you help Herman to his room?” Brinley asked, without facing him.
“Yeah, sure. Come on, Herman. I will help you back to your room.”
“Wait what about me? What am I supposed to do?” Gabriella waved her arms back and forth.
“Your safe here.” Brinley slowly turned to nod at the young banshee. “I know what you did to get me here, and for that I am grateful.” Brinley waited until Gabriella left the room before turning to face Joy.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.”
Joy sighed. “Are you pissed at me? Like you just left, didn’t send a text you just vanished without a word. I searched all over for you and Jackson. I couldn’t find either of you. Why would you just leave without talking to me?”
“When did you become my mother? I don’t have to fill you in on every part of life. I needed some space, and I took it. I felt like I couldn’t breathe.”
“You needed space from me? What the fuck, Brin?”
Brinley exhaled. “Shit.” Brinley shook her head. “I needed space from everyone. There I said it. You feel better now?” Joy opened her mouth, but Brinley continued. “Your life is grand. You have watchers and boyfriends and a past, present, and future. You know who you are. Did you ever think about my feelings? Never once did you dare ask me about me. I awoke some ancient power by killing a demon that thrush me into this dark realm bullshit. Day by day I save everyone else besides myself. I keep pushing my feelings further away until the line is so blurry, I can’t see. One day I graduate college and the next I’m a superhero. I just want to know who I am. Why is my life full of suffering?”
“Suffering? What the fuck are you talking about?” Brinley opened her mouth, but Joy cut her off. “Is this some kind of pity party?”
“Pity?” Brinley growled under her breath. “I don’t need your pity. Joy.” Brinley walked past her to run her index finger across the stonewall. “I’ve always loved this place. I didn’t know what a home felt like until you and Herman. No matter how hard I fought against it. I’ve always wanted a family. Then I realized I put you all at risk. I needed to be alone.”
“But you are not alone.” Joy reached out to comfort her friend.
Brinley nodded. “I know that, but I had to clear my mind. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. Honestly, it was a spur-of-the-moment kind of thing.” Brinley turned around.
“What happened to Jackson? You were so happy about your date. What happened?”
“We spoke. It wasn’t the lovey-dovey shit I thought it was. Instead, he told me he wanted a normal girl in his life, so he went back to Scotland.”
“Fuck.” Joy whispered. “I’m sorry.”
Brinley held up her hand. “Don’t apologize, remember it’s a pity party.”
Joy nodded. “I didn’t mean to…” Joy knew trying to get answers from Brinley would be hard especially if she didn’t want anyone to know.
“What’s wrong with Herman?” Brinley asked for the third time.
Joy exhaled. “While we were gone Herman tried to fight back the darkness alone. By doing so, the attempt left his body drained. I think he’s dying. Brax and I went to Emmaline to see if she knew a way to help him.”
“Did she help?”
“Emmaline summoned Fina.”
“No shit?” Brinley gasped. “Emmaline summoned her?”
“Yeah, no shit.” Fina stepped through the doorway. “I’m glad you’re back.”